Flavoured syrups such as Monin and Torani last 90 to 180 days after opening when capped and stored at room temperature, but only 30 to 60 days if a pump is left in the bottle, because the open neck lets air and fruit flies in. Cocktail mixes such as Finest Call and Master of Mixes are shelf-stable unopened and keep 4 to 6 weeks refrigerated once opened. Fruit purees must be refrigerated after opening and used within 7 to 14 days. Unopened syrups and mixes are typically good for 18 to 36 months from the production date printed on the bottle.

A 1 L bottle holds about 135 standard 1/4 oz (7.5 mL) pump strokes. A flavoured latte or soda uses 2 to 3 pumps, so one litre makes roughly 45 to 65 drinks. A cocktail mix such as Finest Call is used at 1 to 3 oz per drink, so a 1 L bottle makes 11 to 33 cocktails, and a 5 to 1 concentrate such as a slush or lemonade base yields about 6 L of finished drink. Most bars figure cost per drink from these yields rather than from the bottle price. Chicken Pieces stocks 750 mL, 1 L and 1.89 L (64 oz) formats by the bottle or case.

Store unopened syrups and mixes between 10 and 25 C, out of direct sunlight, in a dry stockroom. Once opened, sugar-based syrups stay at room temperature with the cap on tight, while sugar-free syrups, purees, coconut cream and dairy-based mixes go in the refrigerator. Remove pumps overnight and rinse them weekly, since dried syrup in a pump is the main cause of off flavours and fruit flies. Do not freeze purees or mixes, because freezing separates the emulsion. Write the opening date on every bottle and rotate first in, first out.

Yes. Flavoured syrups are simple sugar solutions with flavouring, so one bottle of vanilla, caramel or raspberry works in lattes, Italian sodas, lemonades, milkshakes, cocktails and mocktails. Standard dosing is 1/4 oz per 4 oz of drink for coffee and 1 oz per 12 oz for soda. Puree-based mixes such as strawberry or mango work in both blended cocktails and smoothies. The difference is in the cocktail bases: sour mix, margarita mix and Bloody Mary or Clamato bases are formulated to be balanced with spirits and are too sharp or salty for coffee drinks.

Simple syrup is a 1 to 1 mix of sugar and water by volume; rich syrup is 2 to 1 and is sweeter and lasts longer. House-made simple syrup keeps about one month refrigerated and can crystallize if sugar builds up on the neck of the bottle. Commercial simple syrups such as Finest Call and Monin Pure Cane are made with invert sugar and preservatives, so they do not crystallize, stay pourable at room temperature and last 12 months or more unopened. For high-volume bars, a 1 L commercial bottle replaces roughly 40 cocktails worth of house syrup with no cooking or cooling time.

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